Slide buckle



Feb. 13, 1934. P. w. WHITE Er Al.

SLIDE BUCKLE Filed Nov. 25

Patented Feb. 13, 1934 PATENT OFFICE SLIDE BUCKLE Paul W. White and Paul Heinze, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Parva Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application November 25, 1933 Serial No. 699,646

7 Claims. (Cl. 24-73) This invention relates to a slide buckle and has special reference to a buckle adapted to be adjustably associated with straps, bands, and the like, for the support of garments or other objects on the person.

More particularly, this invention relates to slide buckles comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames having cooperating portions for engaging a strap threaded therebetween, there being means on the cooperating portions for effecting a snap engagement therebetween upon the movement of the frames in opposite directions to clamp the strap in adjusted positions. In the particular embodiment shown, the strap is clamped between opposed faces of cooperating cross bars, one ofv the cross bars of one frame having a recessed portion thereon cooperating with a projecting portion on a cross bar of the other of the frames.

It is contemplated by the present invention to adopt this construction for use with various types of objects particularly on the person and the same cooperative relation between the frames may be employed with slight variations of structure not departing from the spirit' of the invention universally where adjustable connections are desired to be made. However, in the drawing and in the following description, the slide buckle will be shown and described in connection with a shoulder strap of an overall, the strap being threaded through slots in the frames and being clamped between the opposedr faces cooperating cross bars of their respective frames in a locked relation. It is readily apparent, of course, that various other uses could be mentioned in connection with buckles and fasteners generally of this type and that this invention, therefore, is not to be limited tothe specific use herein described and illustrated.

The term snap engagement used hereinafter and in the claims defines that action between cooperating members resulting in a locked condition, or in other words, in a predetermined fixed relation against accidental displacement except by a relatively substantial force, the action being capable of performance by reason of the resiliency of the material of the cooperating members or the compressibility of the material upon which the members actuate or a combination of both.

The cross bars connecting the side bars of the slidably engaged frames are provided with means for effecting a snap engagement therebetween upon the movement vof the frames in opposite directions, which latter may be accomplished, for example, by an application of tension to the strap, the strap being threaded through the slots dened by the cross bars and side bars and between the .cooperating cross bars. The strap is held positively against slipping after an initial application of tension and the slidably engaged frames are also held in a fixed relation except by the use of a relatively substantial force to overcome such iixed relation. The specific means for accomplishing the snap engagement is shown for illustrative purposes in the provision of a recess in a cross bar of one of the frames and a projecting portion on a cross bar of the other of the frames cooperating upon a movement of the frames in opposite directions or in a direction toward each other. By the term recess, as used hereinafter and in the claims, it is meant to include a portion depressed from a surface, a portion between two members raised from a surface, and a at portion of the inclined surface.

In the particular embodiment shown and to be hereinafter described, a recess is provided in a cross bar of one frame and the projecting portion of a cross bar on the other frame passes beyond arpoint of maximum resiliency or compressibility eitherY by reason of the resiliency of the material of the cooperating bars or by the compressibility of the material upon which the bars actuate to a position where the projecting portion and recess are in registration and relieved somewhat of the compressibility or flexibility. 'IVhe cooperating bars are, therefore, locked together with the strap therebetween and are only displaced from such a position by a relatively substantial force.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a slide buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames of the character indicated above in which the strap may be conveniently threaded therethrough and may be easily and readily adjusted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a slide buckle comprising a` pair of slidably engaged frames of the character above indicated in which the cooperating cross bars clamp the strap in adjusted positions between the opposed faces thereof upon the tensioning of the strap in a manner such that the strap is locked between the faces of the cooperating cross bars by a snap engagement therebetween.

A further object of this invention is to provide a buckle comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames, as above pointed out, in which the construction may be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, may be durable and simple in construction, and may be simple in threading and in manipulation.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a face view of a slide buckle constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention in which the buckle isv shown as connecting a portion of a shoulder strap with a fragmentary portion of an overall bib;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing a clamped engagement between the slidably engaged frames;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the position of the frames during the threading operation and prior to the clamped position thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the frames of the buckle construction illustrated in Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 6 showing the other of the frame members of the buckle construction shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form of construction incorporating the features of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a still further modified form of construction embodying the features of this invention; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with a portion of one buckle frame broken away and ernbodying another modified form of construction incorporating the features of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the construction therein shown vcomprises a pair of frame members 10 and 11, the frame member 10 being substantially rectangular in form and having side bars 1-2 and 13 and cross bars 14 and 15 delining a substantially rectangular slot 16, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4.

The frame member 11 is likewise substantially rectangular in shape and comprises side bars 17 and 18 and cross bars 19, 20 and 21 defining substantially rectangular slots Y22 and 23 as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The frames 10 and 11 are preferably stamped from sheet metal'or otherwise formed of a unitary construction, the frames including the side bars and cross bars being preferably dished in cross section to result in the strengthening of the buckle and in the use of a relatively light gage metal.

The cross bar l5 is preferably shaped to define a loop 24, the button receiving opening 25 of which opens into the substantially rectangular slot 16. This construction is employed in the instance where the strap is to be detachably engaged with a button, although it is to be understood, of course, that the bar 15 may extend straight across to be sewedor otherwise secured toanarticle which it may support. In the presentl illustration, the loop 24 is preferably provided with offset portions 26 extending forwardly or upwardly with reference Ato the remainder of the face of the loop and portions 2-7 of the bar.15 areoffset in the opposite direction to extend rearwardly of the loop' for facilitating the entrance of the-button`r into theloop, the forwardly extending offset portions 26 directing the button forwardly over the bar 15 when tension is released from the strap to prevent displacement of the button from the loop.

The cross bar 14 has an exposed surface at least a portion 28 of which is inclined with respect to the plane of the frame, there being a laterally extending recess 29 in the exposed surface for cooperating with a projecting portion 30 in a preferably offset portion of the bar 2l to effect a snap engagement therebetween to clamp the strap in adjusted positions.

In order to assemble the frames in an operative relation, the opposed edges 12 and 13 are preferably bent back upon themselves in a spacedrelation to form channels for receiving the side bars 17 and 18 of the frame 11. The frame 11, therefore, has slidable engagement with the frame 10 in a longitudinal direction toward and away from each other.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, the free end of a shoulder strap 31 of an overall is passed under the bar 19 upwardly through the opening 22 over the bar 20 and thence downwardly through the slots 23 and 16 to a position behind the loop 24.

In the operation of the slide buckle into an adjusted position on the strap, the frames 10 and 11 may initially occupy a position such as is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the strap may be readily moved in either direction through the substantially aligned slots. After the strap is in a desired position, a tension on the strap 31 provides a longitudinal movement of the frame members 10 and 11 in opposite directions, the frame 11 moving upwardly with the strap and the frame 10 remaining in a xed relation to the bib 32 of an overall by reason of a button 33 thereon engaging the loop opening 25 of the frame l0.

The relative longitudinal movement thus effected by the tensioning of the strap 31 causes a parallel movement of the frames generally and the projecting portion 30 of the bar 21 will ride up the inclined portion 28 of the bar 14. Suflicient tension on the strap will permit a continuation of the riding movement until the projecting portion 30 is in substantial alignment with the recess 29 where a snap engagement will occur. The riding movement above recited up the inclined surface and over a point of relatively great height and into a position of lesser height to effect this snap engagement may be accomplished by the resiliency of the material of the bar 21 or by the compressibility of the materialY of the strap 3l or by a combination of both. When the projecting portion 30 registers with the raised portion 29, the buckle is in a locked condition and it is only possible to displace the members from such position by a relatively substantial force, such, for example, as by manualmanipulation. It is improbable that the buckle frames could be displaced from such a locked position by accidental means.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 6 of the drawing, the construction therein shown is exactly the same as that in the previous embodiment with the exception of the bar 14a of the frame 10a, the bar 14a having a longitudinally extending opening theretlnough in lieu of the depressed portion of the previously described embodiment, although both forms may bei broadly considered as recesses. has anV exposed surface at leastk a portion of which is inclinedV with respect to the plane of The bar 14aV the frame and the laterally extending opening is provided therein at a spaced distance from either edge thereof as desired.

The slide buckle is threaded'in the manner previously recited in connection with theembodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and upon a movement of the frames in an opposite parallel relation, the projecting portion 30a of the bar 21a rides up the incline with the strap 31a upon the tensioning `of the latter. By reason of the frame 11a being held against transverse displacement, a continuation ofthe longitudinal movement thus initiated causes the projecting portion 30a thereof to close toward theinclined surface 28a and the recess 29a is positioned at such a point on the inclined surface that the projecting portion 30a snaps into the opening 29a when in registration therewith, forcing the portion-of the strap 31a adjacent the projecting portion into the recess to thus distort the strap and to clamp the same in adjusted positions. The frame members in this condition are locked against movement excepting by manual force or a relatively substantial force such as might be provided by manual manipulation. Y

`The construction shown in Fig. 7 varies fromV the previously recited embodiments in that the bar 14h is provided with an exposed surface at least a portion of which is inclined with respect to the plane of the' frame, the inclined exposed surface having a plurality of recessed portions 29h extending laterally over the inclined surface, one above the other. In the specic embodiment shown in the drawing, two such recessed surfaces are employed, although it will be understood that a greater number may be provided as desired to a point where the surface is merely a series of corrugations. With this construction, the thickness of the strap may be varied to any extent desired, that is, from a very thin silk strap of a single thickness to a very thick doubled denim strap.

In the case of the use of the heaviest type of strap, the projecting portion 30h will have a snap engagement with the very first recess which presents itself on the inclined surface and in the use of the lightest thickness strap, the projecting portion 30h will snap into engagement with perhaps the last recess in its path of travel in a -longitudinal direction upon the tensioning of the strap Bib. The inclined surface in this instance, as in the previously described embodiments, is for the purpose, of course, of facilitating the introduction of the projectinglportion with its cooperative relation with the recessed portion when the frames are moved longitudinally toward each other upon the tensioning of the strap 31h, it being noted that the button engages the loop opening of the frame 10b and by reason of its attachment to the bib 32h holds the frame 10b in a fixed relation affording movement only to the frame 10b. Of course, it is to be understood that in place of the recess 29h shown in Fig. '7, a transverse opening through the bar may be formed or the bar may be formed with merely flattened portions therein, all lof which are included in the use of the term recess.

Whilein the previous embodiments, we have recited the bar corresponding to the bar 14e in Fig. 8 as having an exposed surface at least a portion of which is inclined with respect to the plane of the frame; in the present embodiment,

g the exposed surface is not inclined but is provided with a recessed portion 29e in a substantially flat surface.A However, the recessed bar is preferably relieved adjacent the recess as by means' of a radius at the edge of the bar which is normally provided in all of the bars of the frames of this embodiment by reason of its being of dished or arcuate cross section. The projecting portion 30o when given a relatively longitudinal movement by the tensioning of the strap 31e acting on the frame llc rides over the relieved portion and has a snap engagement with the recess 29o of the bar 14e. The relieved portion has Va similar effect to the inclined surface and facilitates the introduction of the projecting portion into its cooperative relation with the recessed portionV when the frames are moved longitudinally toward each other, the inclined surfacesV leading to the recesses of the previous embodiments being relieved portions in the same sense that the arcuately defined relieved portion obtains the same function.

While several embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same are only to be limited'by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A slide buckle, comprising' a pair of slidably engaged frames each'having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars defining a slotfor receiving a strap threaded therethrough, a cross bar of one of said frames cooperating with a cross bar on the other of said frames and being spaced a sufficient distance apart to receive a strap threaded therebetween when Vin an unclamped position, and means on said last mentioned cross bars cooperating with said strap to effect a snap engagement therewith when said frames are moved in opposite directions upon the tensioning of said strap whereby said strap is clamped in adjusted positions.

2. A slide buckle, comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames each having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars defining a slot for receiving a strap threaded therethrough, a cross bar of one of said frames having an outwardly extending button-retaining loop having a passage leading to the slot in the interior of the frame for receiving a button acting to support a garment or other article and the other bar engaging said strap, said passage and slot being of suicient width to permit said button to pass through said slot and the shank thereof into said loop, a cross bar of the other of said frames overlying said strap engaging bar of said rst mentioned frame and being spaced a sufficient distance apart to receive a strap threaded therebetween when in an unclamped position, and means on said last mentioned cross bars cooperating with said strap to effect a snap engagement therewith when said frames are moved in opposite directions upon the tensioning of said strap whereby said strap is clamped in adjusted positions.

3. A slide buckle, comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames each having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars defining a slot for receiving a strap threaded therethrough, a cross bar of one of said frames acting to support a garment or other article and the other cross bar engaging said strap, a cross bar of the other of saidv frames overlying said strap engaging bar of said first mentioned frame and being spaced a sufficient distance therefrom to receive a strap threaded therebetween when in an unclamped position, one of said overlying cross bars having a recessed portion thereon, and a projecting portion on the other of said overlying cross bars cooperating with said recessed portion to effect a snap engagement with said strap when said frames are moved in opposite directions upon the tensioning of said strap whereby said strap is clamped in adjusted positions.

4. A slide buckle, comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames each having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars defining a slot for receiving a strap threaded therethrough, a cross bar of one of said frames acting to support a garment or other article and the other cross bar engaging said strap, a cross bar of the other of said frames overlying said strap engaging bar of said rst mentioned frame and being spaced a suiiicient distance therefrom to receive a strap threaded therebetween when in an unclamped position, one of said overlying cross bars having a recessed portion thereon, and a projecting portion on the other of said overlying cross bars cooperating with said recessed portion to effect a snap engagement with said strap when said frames are moved in opposite directions upon the tensioning of said strap whereby said strap is clamped in adjusted positions, said recessed bar being relieved adjacent the recess thereof to facilitate the introduction of said porjecting portion into its cooperative relation with said recessed portion.

5. A slide buckle, comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames each having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars defining a slot for receiving a strap threaded therethrough, a cross bar of one of said frames acting to support a garment or other article and the other cross bar engaging said strap, a cross bar of the other of said frames overlying said strap engaging bar of said rst mentioned frame and being spaced a sufficient distance therefrom to receive a strap threaded therebetween when in an unclamped position, one of said overlying cross bars having an exposed surface at least a portion of which is inclined with respect to the plane of the frame and having a recess in said exposed surface, and a projecting portion on the other of said overlying cross bars cooperating with said recess to eiect a snap engagement with said strap when said frames are moved in opposite directions upon the tensioning of said strap whereby said strap is clamped in adjusted positions.

6. A slide buckle, comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames each having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars defining a slot for receiving a strap threaded therethrough, a cross bar of one of said frames acting to support a garment or other article and the other cross bar engaging said strap, a cross bar of the other of said frames overlying said strap engaging bar of said first mentioned frame and being spaced a suficient distance therefrom to receive a strap threaded therebetween when in an unclamped position, one of said overlying cross bars having an exposed surface at least a portion of which -is inclined with respect to the plane of the frame and having a plurality of laterally extending recesses in said exposed surface, and a projecting portion on the other of said overlying cross bars cooperating with one of said recesses to effect a snap engagement with said strap when said frames are moved in opposite directions upon the tensioning of said strap whereby said strap is clamped in adjusted positions.

7. A slide buckle, comprising a pair of slidably engaged frames each having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars defining a slot for receiving a strap threaded therethrough, a cross bar of one of said frames acting to support a garment or other article and the other cross bar engaging said strap, a cross bar of the other of said frames overlying said strap engaging bar of said first mentioned frame and being spaced a suicient distance therefrom to receive a strap threaded therebetween when in an unclamped position, one of said overlying cross bars having an exposed surface at least a portion of which is inclined with respect to the plane of the frame and having an opening extending transversely therethrough, and a projecting portion on the other of said overlying cross bars cooperating with said opening to effect a snap engagement with said strap when said frames are moved in opposite directions upon the tensioning of said strap whereby said strap is clamped in adjusted positions.

PAUL W. WHITE. PAUL HEINZE. 

